The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-11
KILLING OF THE DUNHAMS,
los Ii RleWs Placed Under Arrest on
ldre " CHcumsiantial Evidence.
sssgss.s . developments That Aroused Suspicion
= s~-and led to His Being Apprehended as the
= Jssible Author of the Horrible Deed.
eeia to the Indianapolis Journal.

Tpeci. to the Indianapolis Journal.
w RsAw, Feb l0.-Intense excitement still
IRE, Ills here and in this vicinity over the horr-
Die murder of the Dunham family. The scene
Of the butchery was visited yesterday by hun
n6eeds Of people, some mpelled by curiosity alone
hile some hoped to discover some clew that
light solve the mystery and lead to the detec-
on OF the perpetrator of the crime. Further
developments show beyond doubt that Durham
cid not kill his wife and child and take his
own life. Suspicion, founded singularly
compromising circumstances. rests on Joseph
lew, man about twenty-seven years of age.
no has been working Dunham's farm until
gently. About two weeks ago Durham dis
e-reed Plew. after having some words with
|n The family were about to sit down to
ener when the quarrel occurred. Mrs. Dun
70 put no plate on the table for Plew. He
came enraged at this, and hot words
fsed between him and the family. Plew
Mt ont and sat the porch while
family were at dinner Henry Phenegar,
nephew of the murdered man, says
that he was present when Plew was discharged.
ard saw Dunham pay him 81. 90, the balance
due him en- his wages. Going out of the house
after dinner Phereear and Plew started toward
the gate. Pew stopped when few feet from
.b1ysouse, ssrned and shook Eis fist at Dunham
ana exclaimed: - you, I'll get ever
with ydu inside of two weeks" Nothing more
passed between them. Phenegar and Plew going
ont tof the gate and separating. These facts were
not elicited By the coroner. and an investigation
was instituted by several men present. Traces of
blood were discovered on the front porch ard
on the top boards of the large farm. gate back
rf horN Aotf thA &c
young Phenegar and the discoveries made, Con-
stable Scott, Tom Richcrsek and County Sur
veyor MeCarter resolved to apprehend Plew.
( II vas learned that on the day following the
murder he was in North Webster, where he
ipurchased wallet and knife, changing
fvedollar pill to pay for the articles. About IL
o'clock last night the searchers found Plew in a
house near Syracuse. He was brought here and
iodsed in Jail at early hour this morning.
: When arrested a pocket book containing small
amount of silver was found on his person. When
asksi if he had any money he protested
that he had not He denied having purchased
poAet- book at North Webster. On search being
M in the he'd where he slept. wallet con-
taibhg $85 in bills was found secreted between
the faeets. He said that it belonged to him. but
hentad forgotten that he placed it there,
Itis thought that the pocket book
fa4. bis person can be identified
a. b one owned by Durham. Plew has al
been impecunous, neer-do-well, and
III Rte acquaintances say that he never had
thu lssount Of money of his own. He can give
no .tisfactory account of the way he became
ssed of it. He took his arrest cooy and
pen selfpossessed and apparently indiffer-
nr since. He talks freely, but has told
yhree different stories of his actions and
bouts for the past week. oHe was sub
to close examination In the
this morning, and contradicted
mself continuously. There blood spots
mis- clothes, large spot his collar, and
bid ot stains in the outside pocket of his blouse
0nb 4 the bills found in his bed also bears the
wel lsfned marks of bloody fingers upon it.
- NIL Dunham is living but is still unconscious
Che allies at times and talks incoherently. but
eaf ye nothing can be learned of her that will
= o'any light on the matter. This murder is
q isle topic of conversation. There is consid-
j, wild talk Of mob violence. should
4, 10 proven by Mrs. Dunham's
!. ents, or other sources, that Plew is
l4fsy 1t lie, however. thought and generally
expressed that cool judgment will prevail, and
tie lsk be allowed to take its course. The cor
Oh Rs net yet completed the inquest. the late
q bments in the altering entirely tht
81 inion formed. 1t Is hoped that new evi
dS nay be obtained on Mrs. Dunham's re-
covery No preliminary examination will bs
held until the result of the coroner's inquest il
annouteed. Another fact which strengthen,
the beEef that the deed was not committed By
Dunham is, that the butcher knife commonly
used bg the family cannot be found, and M
weapon Of any kind lay near Dunham's bod,
WI en II was found.